Who will be blamed if Bush and Cheney suddenly strike Iran, as the Russian Intelligence Services and other sources are are implying? The knee-jerk reaction will be to blame Bush and Cheney, who are to blame, however we must remember that it takes more than two men to start a war! Who is it that is enabling these warmongers to endanger every citizen in the United States? The elements of corporate America and the military that support another war have to be considered, but ultimately, they can only pull-off another attack if the public is largely unaware of their plans. It’s time to be realistic and place the blame squarely where it belongs, on America’s Mainstream News Media!
Why? Americans are experiencing the toughest times that I can remember, and I’m 57 years old. Twenty-eight million people in the USA are on food stamps (usually, head of household has the FS account, so this figure could represent as many as 784 million US families based on an average of 3 family members per household.) and the Independent is calling it USA 2008: The Great Depression. It’s hard to imagine that when you shop at the store, slightly more than one out of every four to five households may be shopping with food stamps! If we’re going hungry now, and I’ll admit that I’m one of those that has to exist with help from the government - how fast will it get much worse and possibly result in severe food shortages in our own country? The American people are tired, worn down by the economic crisis we face - and the majority of the country is dead-set against another war! For those who struggle on a daily basis to keep gas in their cars and food on the tables, how outraged would they be if they knew that another war was possible, perhaps likely, after the April deadline for Iran to submit to UN demands expires, if they even wait that long?
After Vice-President Dick Cheney left Saudi Arabia last week, this news came from Saudi Arabia:
Last Friday, Dick Cheney was in Saudi Arabia for high-level meetings with the Saudi king and his ministers. On Saturday, it was revealed that the Saudi Shura Council — the elite group that implements the decisions of the autocratic inner circle — is preparing “national plans to deal with any sudden nuclear and radioactive hazards that may affect the kingdom following experts’ warnings of possible attacks on Iran’s Bushehr nuclear reactors,” one of the kingdom’s leading newspapers, Okaz, reports. The German-based dpa news service relayed the paper’s story.
Simple prudence — or ominous timing? We noted here last week that an American attack on Iran was far more likely — and more imminent — than most people suspect. We pointed to the mountain of evidence for this case gathered by scholar William R. Polk, one of the top aides to John Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and to other indicators of impending war. The story by Okaz — which would not have appeared in the tightly controlled dictatorship without approval from the top — is yet another, very weighty piece of evidence laid in the scales toward a new, horrendous conflict.
We don’t know what the Saudis told Cheney in private — or even more to the point, what he told them. But the release of this story now, just after his departure, would seem to be a clear indication that the Saudis have good reason to fear a looming attack on Iran’s nuclear sites and are actively preparing for it. MORE
It’s noteworthy to add that the link to the original story from Saudi Arabia no longer is active, demonstrating they must have been pressured to take the story off line - or it was being hit so many times they had to remove it because of a limited traffic capability; if the VP of the Us visits a country, and the country begins to prepare itself for the possibility of nuclear fallout and the possible effects of what they hope will be a “limited” nuclear strike by the US on Iran, isn’t that what most of us would consider to be a major news event? If the South Koreans were preparing themselves for an eminent attack from North Korea, the MSM would have the story on every front page in America - as they did when the north recently threatened South Korea. If we, who find these articles and compile them in a manner that indicates the sum of the whole indicates the US is preparing to attack Iran, we have to believe the MSM has the same, if not more information of a national concern that they refuse to address. I feel sure they will respond when the dastardly deed is finally underway that they couldn’t report upon the issue because they were advised by Washington that it would endanger national security - an argument that is pure poppycock when these stories are traveling around the world on the Internet.
The answer is not that they would endanger national security, but that if they raised the alarm, which is the duty of the MSM, Americans would react on a scale that would shake the foundations of the Washington political system! If we attack Iran, and any type of ground deployments become necessary, as it likely will, where will the US come-up with the military personnel to bolster the ground troops we would need for another prologued war? There’s only one answer, and that would be to re-implement the draft, taking away the breadwinners of many American homes, thereby furthering the economic despair that millions of us experience on a daily basis. How will China and Russia react? What if countries that express their indignation and revulsion of our aggressive policies decide to mount some sort of an embargo against the US? Do we believe that we are so high and mighty that the world will embrace another conflict, especially one that could easily escalate into WW III with the current amount of anti-American sentiment that is demonstrated throughout the world?
The MSM is concentrating on the upcoming November elections and the economy in the US - essentially using it as cover for failing to warn us of an impending attack against Iran. When we are faced with an issue that affects every American here and abroad, it’s time to bombard the MSM with emails, letters to the various editors, and calls to Congress to demand answers. On an issue this serious, the least the MSM could do is to try and debunk what is stated on the news in other countries - tell us why it’s not a problem, and assure us that our military isn’t readying themselves to attack Iran. If Russia is stating that they have evidence an attack on Iran is imminent, I believe that it is not only newsworthy, but to ignore a threat as dire as an attack that could be a precursor to WW III, if the MSM refuse to uphold their responsibility to warn the people, they are as guilty as those who make the final decision to begin the attack.
There is strength in numbers, but if the only people who know that disaster is in the making are those who receive their news via alternative news sources - there will never be enough outrage and fear to stop this attack before it starts, and to place our future in the hands of a MSM that has repeatedly sided with the Bush administration is a guarantee that Bush and his cronies will succeed. Once again, those that demand peace over war are being marginalized, much as they did with potential Presidential candidates - but that was an election, and this time, the issue we face may ultimately be one that affects our ability to guarantee that there will be a 2008 election - and hoping that Bush and Cheney don’t set the Middle-East on fire before they slink out of office. We can stop it, but only if we come together in solidarity instead of refusing to heed the writing on the wall that is now being chiseled in stone.
Even for me, this is hard to believe! What did the “average American” do to deserve this? Why does our government believe that the American population itself is the “enemy”, and then violates our constitutional rights in the name of national security? In the last year, the United States has morphed into a Police State - with a President and Vice-President that appear to hate anyone that isn’t in their circle of wealthy friends or the corporations that prop-up the Bush administration through their manipulation of the Mainstream News Media.
Rupert Murdoch has violated our anti-trust laws, as well as Wal-Mart, AT&T, and a host of other corporations - and the Congress and President do nothing to enforce laws that are already on our books. They refuse to enforce immigration laws, spit on the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and then thumb their nose at the world by violating the Geneva Convention as it pertains to torture and the treatment of prisoners of war. What’s next, implanting chips into our bodies to keep better track of us? When will Washington realize that “we are the people” - that this is OUR country, not the exclusive playground and killing fields of the corporate elite and America’s dynasty families that have already attempted to overthrow our government in 1933! LINK
I’ll admit that this latest assault on our freedom and civil liberties is unparalleled, even for the Bush administration! Read the below story and ask yourselves what each of as individuals are going to do to stop our rapid decent into tyranny and dictatorship:
US spy satellites to be used on Americans
08/15/2007 @ 8:35 am Filed by Nick Juliano
Local and federal agencies are to have vastly expanded access to information gathered from spy satellites in the U.S., the Wall Street Journal reports.
Information from “some of the U.S.’s most powerful intelligence-gathering tools” will soon be at the disposal of a wide array of law enforcement agencies at all levels of government, reports Robert Block in the Journal Wednesday. Director of National Intelligence Michael McConnell decided to increase access to the spy data earlier this year and asked Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to facilitate access to the spy data by civilian agencies and law enforcement.
Previously, access to only the most basic spy-satellite data was limited to a handful of federal civilian agencies, such as NASA and the US Geological Survey, which used the images for scientific and environmental study.
The move to turn spy satellites on American citizens raises legal questions because the use of such data for law enforcement is “largely uncharted territory.” Even the officials behind the move were unsure of its legal implications, the Journal reports.
“There is little if any policy, guidance or procedures regarding the collection, exploitation and dissemination of domestic MASINT,” noted a 2005 study from the US intelligence community, which recommended access to spy satellites. MASINT, or Measurement and Signatures Intelligence, is a particular kind of spy-satellite data that would become available to law enforcement for the first time. MORE
There comes a time when the people themselves have to take matters into their own hands! Now that we know Congress is either too cowardly, or being bribed or blackmailed to the extent they won’t represent the people who placed them in office - there is nothing left between America turning into a full-fledged dictatorship except “we the people” - and so far, our track record for protests and action is dismal at best - and downright disgusting as it pertains to us standing-up for our rights.
Remember who we are, the rich heritage our forefathers left us, and then ask why none of us will put forth the effort and sacrifice to keep America free? If we do not take to the streets and rock Washington with a series of protests, sit-ins, and every other legal means we have of protest - The United States as we know it will only be a memory, replaced by the nightmare of Tyranny and fascism - compliments of the Bush family and many of America’s oldest and richest corporations. It makes you wonder if we would be facing the loss of our freedom and civil rights if they would have prosecuted and imprisoned/executed those who attempted to overthrow our government in 1933 - instead of caving-in to their wealth and essentially giving them a free-ride with no punishment for attempting to overthrow our government. THIS is what inaction and failing to apply the law equally does to a democratic society - and some would say it’s our own fault for allowing Bush to get this far without any meaningful action by Congress or the people. Unfortunately, I am inclined to agree; we reap what we sow!
There’s a perceptible change in the mood of the Internet in regard the Bush administration. It’s sad, but reading the many articles and posts, and especially delving into the comments of each article reveal an America that is beginning to express their fear and raw distrust for Bush and Cheney. Some of the articles paint a picture of a nation living in fear of its President, and for me, that a first in United States history!
You can tell the people are disgusted, as every editorial and article you read almost universally condemns Congress expanding President Bush’s power to illegally spy on Americans, most of whom have absolutely no ties to terrorism. Now, he doesn’t even need a court’s approval… What message did this send to the rest of the world, those whose calls are routed through some of our main telecom switches?
At what exact time did the United States of America gain the legal authority to spy on virtually any international call that is routed through our system? What message does this send to other nations whose rights we are indiscriminately violating? It would seem that many of their fears may be well-founded – and tensions are increasing across the international board as Bush ratchets-up the illegal eavesdropping and continues to treat his neighbors with contempt and disrespect. We are clearly viewed as an “aggressor” in many parts of the world – a title that may be justified to a certain extent, and it’s escalating an arms race and military build-up world-wide.
The disappointment is heavy in the air, and no matter where I turned, there was another negative editorial by a host of prominent Mainstream New Papers.
Capitol Hill Blue was especially critical with an excellent story – and comments that show the true frustration of many Americans:
Failed Congress leaves town in disgrace
By DOUG THOMPSON
The Democrats who came to power with so much hype and fanfare after the 2006 mid-term elections limped out of Washington Sunday, battered and bruised from multiple losses to the most unpopular President in modern American history.
After seven months of failure after failure, the Democratic Congress compounded their many errors by passing a far-reaching bill that allows Bush to spy at will on Americans without court approval. All he needs is a sign off by his lackluster and flawed Attorney General, Alberto Gonzales.
The Democrats, of course, will spin their failures as some measure of success against high odds and will point to high profile bills like raising the minimum wage to bolstering U.S. security and expanding children’s health care.
But their main promise — to bring the troops home from Iraq — remain a broken pact with American voters and even with Republican defections from the President’s unpopular war, the Democrats lack the votes or the fortitude to stand up to Bush on his failed Iraq policy.
The spin started early Sunday with Democrats pointing to claimed victories and ignoring their many losses. MORE
Make sure and read the comments associated with the above article, and others I’m including for your perusal. RAW Story reported today there was a major security breach at the Los Alamos National Laboratory – and believe me, it wasn’t a minor breach!
Nuke weapons lab reports another major security breach
08/07/2007 @ 9:46 am Filed by Michael Roston
A government watchdog group warns that New Mexico’s Los Alamos National Laboratory, one of the nation’s nuclear weapons design laboratories, has again experienced a security failure of ‘the most serious’ level.
“An incident involving the unauthorized release of classified data via email occurred last week at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL),” reported a press release Monday from the Project on Government Oversight (POGO). “The incident…is rated among ‘the most serious threats to national security.’”
However, POGO also noted that the lab had attempted to change the classification of the security breach in order to minimize it. MORE
Again, as you read the comments associated with this story, it reveals more fear of the government, and each day, it appears that more and more Americans believe this government is capable of a false-flag attack within the continental United States upon its own citizens. What has become of our country when Americans are forced to live in fear of their own President?
On the Smirking Chimp, there are several excellent articles that point out the real possibility of Bush/Cheney declaring martial law – and they are respected writers who provide an excellent spot-on analysis of the situation:
All of the above articles are excellent, and demonstrate through logic and a thorough analysis of Bush’s recent Executive order(s) – so secret that senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee DeFazio has been denied access to Bush’s disaster plan. What is so secret that Democratic members of Congress are denied access to material that it is their mandated duty as Congressmen to provide oversight thereof? LINK
Is this what we have to look forward to in America? Why are we as a people allowing ourselves to live in fear? Bush’s foreign policy has the entire world on edge, as well as growing numbers of US citizens. More Americans are moving to Canada LINK than ever before, and we all know why they are moving; it’s interesting to note that it’s many of the intellectuals and those of higher education that are leaving. Perhaps they have already understood what too many of us are ignoring and failing to react to ourselves. Freedom, once tasted and embedded in our psyche, is unacceptable to lose, even if it means escaping to another country in advance of the coming fray. Many more are speaking of staying-on to fight rather than lie-down like our Congress is, and the tension seems to grow by the day. Where’s the outrage?
The writing is on the wall. We as a nation have never allowed ourselves to live in fear; we have fought and died all over the world in the pursuit of liberty and freedom throughout our history – and now it’s possible we face our worst enemy, and still – we remain essentially silent while our freedoms and rights are being stripped away at a remarkable pace, right before our eyes – and Congress is too cowardly to stand-up and protect those who elected them to office.
Get mad! But most of all, start organizing. I’m still astounded that during the KOS Convention, a cohesive plan wasn’t developed for all of the Bloggers’ to unite and try and organize the people. Congress has proved they will not stand up for the people, so now it’s up to us. There isn’t anyone left – and unless we wake-up and organize and speak with one voice, the many scenarios described in the above articles and comments could soon become a reality. Make the decision to do something about it yourself – and implore everyone you know to do the same. We owe it to ourselves, and we owe it to the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and all of those that died before us defending its principles.
12 years before Hawaii and Alaska joined the US, or within that same year when Gandhi led India/Pakistan to freedom, the USSA was organizing and advocating for students. This year the United States Student Association, the nations oldest and largest student-ran organization with over 2 million student members, celebrates 60 years of student advocacy. Read More »
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